Congratulations to these fine products, which were awarded the Mr. Dad Seal of Approval and the GreatDad Recommends Award. Both Seals recognize products that facilitate father-child relationships by getting dads and kids engaged and having fun together.

Submissions are now being accepted for our Back-to-School and Winter Holiday Seasons.

Klettermax Castle Game (HABA)Like a lot of HABA games, Klettermax Castle is suggested for players 4-99. And truly, this is a game that can be enjoyed by readers and non-readers together. The object of the game is to collect award cards by flicking colored wooden “knights” into the nine open boxes of the game. While a roll of the dice determines when a player can next try to flick his knight in, the game also requires strategy and fine motor skills. We played this with a 9 year old boy who enjoyed it and we extended the rules to make it a 45-minute long game, though playing by the real rules would make it an easy 20 minute game. We’d recommend this game for younger players and dads, though older players and grandparents can certainly join in. HabaUSA.com

Reading Rainbow app (Reading Rainbow)The Reading Rainbow app is a nicely designed reading service that has a lot going for it. It promotes reading through a big selection of books selected for each child based on his stated preferences. Using a Netflix-type system, kids can check out books as they wish and take out more when they return the ones they’ve finished reading, all for one $10 monthly fee. The app also includes an alerts feature so that parents can monitor what books are being and read and for how long. We like this app because it promotes reading in a fun way, with supplementary videos that continue to promote reading itself as an adventure. At the same time, we hope that the app is gradually improved in two ways. First, it would be great if there were a plan that costs less than $10 per month. We know that books don’t come free, but this is a high priced monthly fee that will be prohibitive for many families.
Second, we wished that the app actively suggested reading a story with dad (or mom) rather than focusing only on solo reading, which can be a challenge for the targeted kids here, ages 4-9. At this age, kids need more supervision in their reading, and motivation, that goes beyond electronic stickers for reading each story, like hugs and smiles from an involved parent. Still, this is one of the best efforts we’ve seen for an app that promotes reading by young kids. Reading Rainbow app.

Kindness Kingdom board game (Kindness Kingdom)Some toys and games can be enjoyed equally by girls and boys. Others are decidedly for one sex or the other. Kindness Kingdom is one of those–aimed squarely at girls. Many dads will take a look at the fairies, tea parties, charm bracelets, princesses, and flowers and run away screaming. But that would be a mistake. In fact, I’d argue that this game is an absolute must-have for dads of daughter. The insights you’ll get into what makes your little girl tick are well worth the purchase price. And the rewards you’ll get from showing her you’re really interested in her world are priceless. Players move around the board collecting charms (first one to fill up her or his charm bracelet wins) and answering questions from a variety of categories. (For example, What’s a fancy word for tea sandwiches? Should you extend your hand first to shake hands with someone in a wheelchair? How long after you receive a gift should you have to write a thank-you note?)The game sometimes seems a little heavy-handed in its attempt to teach manners and empathy, but girls love it–and for those of us who missed finishing school, it really is a great learning experience. 2-4 player, ages 5 and up. kindnesskingdom.com

SkyTrix (Sky Trix)SkyTrix™ looks like glider but plays like a kite and a frisbee all in one. The concept is simple – a plane on a tether. You can swing it around your head and make it fly straight up in the air, or send it flying to, hopefully, be caught by your child. The SkyTrix is very responsive and thankfully, takes no batteries. It’s that simplest of toy that just requires a nice, calm day and a little bit of time. You can throw as much energy has you want at it, running and throwing or try to stand mostly stationary to play a game of SkyTrix catch. people-powered. At beach party tests, we were able to do boomerang shots that sent the glider forward and then back again, to the amazement of bystanding 9-year olds. Product videos show other tricks such as casting, snap backs, and loops. SkyTrix™ is a fun game for dads and kids looking for new ways to play catch. This is a toy that both adults and kids will find entertaining, especially once they get the feel of how to make it cooperate. Please note that SkyTrix is for kids ages 8+. facebook.com/flyskytrix

Young Scientists Club, Clifford the Big Red Dog Series (Young Scientists Club)This new series of three kits is a great introduction to the sciences for the pre-school age kids (ages 3 and up). Since they are pre-packaged with almost everything you need to conduct the included experiments, it’s easy for dads to jump right in and get involved. Kids love to see things happen in the natural world, and dads love to explain the deeper principles behind the experiments (though we do recommend a little background research before hand so dad isn’t stumped). We also recommend allowing plenty of time to clean up before mom gets home. These kits are also good in families with multiple children. theyoungscientistsclub.com

YFlikr Y-volution (Fliker Scooters)Once you get past the YFlikr’s unique and very cool design (from the top, it looks like a Y (hence Y-volution)—one wheel in the front, one on each of the two back “wings”—you’re in for a real treat. You can push off with one foot, like a skateboard or scooter, but with a little practice, you can get the YFlikr moving just by wiggling your behind (sorry, there’s no way around that—but it’s also a tremendous workout and makes exercise a blast). The YFlikr is also a great way to meet your neighbors: every time we take ours out for a spin around the neighborhood, we literally stop traffic and people cross the street to ask about it. $99.00 (for the F3) – $129.00 (for the F5). http://flikerscooters.net/

Ringstix (Ringstix)The game of catch must be one of the oldest games on earth. So it seems almost impossible that someone could come up with a variation that’s truly unique. Yet that’s exactly what RingStix is. Each RingStix kit includes four sword-like wands–enough for two players–and two rings that are about as big around as a grapefruit. Pick up an extra set or two and you can expand the game to three or four. Here how it works: The first player puts both swords through one of the rings, then, by pulling the swords apart, the ring flies across the distance between him and player two. Player two tries to catch the flying ring on both of her swords and the process is repeated, with player two shooting the rings to player one. The first time or two the ring will go flying to the sides, over heads, or flop on the ground and roll away. But in less then five minutes, dad and kids will be having a blast. The set we tried out included a regular ring and one that glows in the dark, which was especially fun. Three warnings. First, you’ll need a lot of space (ideally, 10-100 feet between players) so don’t even think about playing RingStix inside. Second, play on grass or at the beach. Once you develop a little proficiency, you’ll want to make spectacular diving catches. Third, if you plan to play in the dark, check out the playing area for dog droppings, gopher holes, and sprinkler heads–all of which we managed to discover too late… Ages 9 and up. www.ringstix.com

Children’s Spirit Animal Stories, Volume II (CD by Steven D. Farmer)There’s no substitute for reading to your child—it builds vocabulary, focus, concentration, opens up doors to the imagination, and is a wonderful opportunity to spend time cuddling with your children (no matter how old they are). Sometimes, though, it’s nice for dad and kids to listen to someone else read a story. And it’s especially nice if that story sparks interesting discussions. That’s exactly what Steven D. Farmer does in Volume II of Children’s Spirit Animal Stories. Witten and read by Farmer, the stories feature various animals (an elephant, a dolphin, a unicorn, and others) who are dealing with the same kinds of problems as we humans do. Farmer’s voice and reading style are engaging and he keeps the messages from being too heavy handed. We found that the real value is in the conversations that the stories spark. Dads can jump start things with questions like, “What would you do if you were Emma?” But most kids will already see themselves in the animals and will have plenty to say on their own. Ages 5 and up. www.satiama.com

GreatDad.com and MrDad.com, Announce That Award Submissions Are Now Open for the Best Dad- and Kid-Friendly Products

Leading fatherhood websites/blogs now accepting submissions of great products that foster stronger relationships between dads and kids.

San Francisco, California, November 7, 2012 – Products and services that foster a closer relationship between dads and their kids deserve to be recognized. And that’s exactly what the GreatDad Recommends and Mr. Dad Seal of Approval programs are designed to do. Deadline for receiving submissions is November 30, 2012 and winners will be announced the week of December 9.